NATIONAL NEWS
February 19, 2002
Playing Around at Toy Fair 2002
Trading cards, bubbles, tops and games your parents used to play were all the rage at this year's Toy Fair
 The Pokemon CARD-E reader will be in stores this May. |
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Check out our special Toy Fair Slideshow with more of the hottest new toys for 2002!
Where can you find Mr. Potato Head and Matchbox cars celebrating their 50th birthdays, tops getting an all-new spin, trading cards flipping out, and bubbles making their biggest splash ever? They were all showing off at The American International Toy Fair, one of the largest gatherings of toymakers and sellers in the world that happens every February in New York City. TIME For Kids was there, along with nearly 2,000 toy manufacturers from 30 countries. Though no kids were allowed in, we spotted some new trends you may want to remember 10 months from now.
|  These Beyblade tops have been launched into action in their own Beystadium. |
Bubbles to Pop and Spinning Tops
Bubbles are popping up all over the place. Snow Bubbles from Helio Genesis form touchable snowflakes each time a bubble bursts. SpinMasterToys has come up with a special formula that makes bubbles harden after just a few seconds. Called Catch-a-Bubble, the bottles will blow into stores this spring.
Toy makers hope tops will soon be a top toy trend. Hasbro's new line of Beyblade tops come unassembled and ready to be custom-built. Already spinning out of control in Japan, these tops can be launched in their own special stadium to compete against other tops.
Trading Card Craze
From magic to movies, trading cards are hot! Magic: The Gathering started the trend with older kids, but games that appeal to everyone are already in the cards. Card games based on Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets and Star Wars: Episode II Attack of the Clones will soon be released. Pokemon is about to release high-tech trading cards. The Pokemon Trading Card Game Card-E (which hooks up to your GameBoy Advance) will allow kids to swipe special magnetic cards through the reader to play new games or get fast facts on their favorite characters.
|  E-kara Real Karaoke features a headset system that lets you be the pop star. |
Music Tops the Toy Charts
Thanks to HitClips and karaoke, pop-music toys are huge. New in the world of HitClips micro music systems is a HitClips Video Jockey that allows you to create your own short video that plays along with any micro music clip. This holiday season, girls can star in their own music videos, with a combination karaoke machine and video camera called VJ Starz from Toymax. Kids can also buy an e-kara headset from Hasbro that looks just like the headset Britney Spears wears when she is touring. All you have to do is choose your favorite song and start singing!
|  This special tin celebrates the 50th birthday of the world's most famous potato turned "funny face man." |
Old Toys are Back!
This year, two of history's most popular toys celebrated birthdays: Mr. Potato Head and the famous Matchbox car. In 1952, Mr. Potato Head was the first toy ever advertised on television. He started as a real potato! Matchbox cars also turned 50 this year, while Trivial Pursuit is no longer a teenager, turning 20.
Board games like Monopoly, Sorry, Yahtzee, Twister and Candy Land have also made a huge comeback. These games now come in special editions modeled after your favorite Pokemon or Disney characters. A new American edition of Monopoly offers a lesson in American history while you play.
Check out our special Toy Fair Slideshow with more of the hottest new toys for 2002!
